Thank You for Celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the Bronx River Alliance! A decade ago a band of passionate community leaders joined together to reclaim the Bronx River as a clean, accessible and valuable resource in the heart of the Bronx. Today the river is a source of community pride, where people come to paddle, bike, picnic and learn. Thank you for joining us as we celebrated the work of so many who have made the river better and more beautiful year by year.

The evening included buffet dinner catered by Abigail Kirsch, cocktails, music by Ibrahim Gonzalez, silent auction, and festivities to celebrate ten years on the Bronx River. Cheryl Wills of NY1 joined us as the master of ceremonies for the evening.


Full Silent Auction Catalog


Transportation (scroll down for more details) to the Mosholu Gate into the Botanical Garden
Metro-North to the Botanical Garden Station.

Subway: B, D or 4 trains to Bedford Park Blvd Station. Transfer to BX 26 bus east to the Garden’s Mosholu Gate. Scroll to bottom for driving directions, Metro-North schedule and information on shuttle bus from the subway.

We thank our sponsors for their support of a beautiful river and vibrant communities.

River Champion
Sims Metal Management

River Protector
Bloomberg LP
Dr. Elizabeth Bennett
Montefiore Medical Center
New York Water Taxi
PWB Management
TD Bank
Tryax Realty Management, Inc

River Friends
Con Edison
Frances Beinecke & Paul Elston
D'Arrigo Brothers Co. of New York Inc.
Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Association Krasdale
Partnerships for Parks
Vista Foods
Verizon

In-kind Donors
REI
Brooklyn Brewery
Slyboro Ciders
Toma Vodka and Wine Cellarage


Host Committee

Richard Allen, American Corporate Benefits Frances Beinecke and Paul Elston Adrian Benepe, Commissioner, NYC Dept. of Parks & Recreation John Calvelli, Wildlife Conservation Society Bill and Paula Luria Caplan Elizabeth Figueroa, The New York Botanical Garden Roberto Garcia, Montefiore Medical Center April Horton, Verizon Paul Lipson Sonia Manzano, "Maria" from Sesame Street

Kim Mathews, Mathews Nielsen Joseph P. Muriana, Fordham University Tom Outerbridge, Sims Metal Management Eric Rothstein, eDesign Dynamics Jorge Santiago, Bronx Council on Environmental Quality Deirdre Scott, Bronx Council on the Arts Bernard Stein, Hunts Point Express Edward Taylor, Down East Seafood, Inc. Tim Tompkins, Times Square Alliance Maria Torres, The Point CDC Thomas F. Webler, PWB Management

Board of Directors

Kellie Terry-Sepulveda, Chair Maarten de Kadt, Vice Chair Adam Green, Secretary Raji Kalra, Treasurer Michael Barr Peter Bourbeau Joan Byron

Jennifer Grossman Judy Hutson Marit Larson Richard S. Reagan Charles Vasser Dart Westphal

Introducing Our Honorees

In 1998, lifelong South Bronx resident Majora Carter trailed her dog down a dead-end street and discovered the Bronx River. Despite decades of debris from illegal dumping, she recognized the river’s potential as a community resource. While working at The Point CDC, Majora applied for seed money to restore the site. Leveraging additional resources and developing transitional uses like community events and boating programs, proved pivotal to the eventual creation of the $3.2M Hunts Point Riverside Park - the first new park of the Bronx River Greenway, the first South Bronx waterfront park in over 60 years, and--the site of her wedding in 2006! Majora served as founding Chair of the Bronx River Working Group and co-leader of the Greenway Team, helping shape the creation of the Bronx River Alliance, and the search for its first Executive Director.

As founder and director of Sustainable South Bronx from 2001 - 08, she pioneered green-collar job training & placement systems, green infrastructure policy and projects, and developed effective communications to broadcast the value of the work incubated on the Bronx River. This MacArthur "genius" Fellow hosts the Peabody Award winning radio series, The Promised Land, from American Public Media, and is president of her own consulting firm, Majora Carter Group, LLC.


As Bronx River Coordinator for Partnerships for Parks, Jenny Hoffner began combing the Bronx in 1997 for community organizations whose missions might connect them to the river, sought out additional partners from the public and business sectors, and brought them all together in what would became the Bronx River Working Group. Her working mantra was to raise awareness of the river by engaging imaginations and cultivating dreams. She organized a diverse constituency, united disparate perspectives and, together with Working Group partners, developed a sustainable and dynamic structure. By 2001, when the Working Group created the Bronx River Alliance as an enduring presence, it had grown to more than 60 partner groups and had attracted more than $100 million in public sector commitments to river and greenway improvements.

Jenny served as acting Executive Director of the Alliance during its first year and then went on to direct Partnerships for Parks. She now lives in Atlanta and serves nationally as Director of the Water Supply Program for American Rivers.


In 1994 Alexie Torres-Fleming became the founder and first executive director of Youth Ministries for Peace & Justice, working to rebuild the South Bronx neighborhoods of Bronx River and Soundview/Bruckner by preparing young people to become prophetic voices for peace and justice. As YMPJ's youth consulted residents about the most pressing issues facing the community, they identified the importance of adding green open spaces. Recognizing what the Bronx River could mean to residents, Alexie led YMPJ in saving the Concrete Plant as a park site, improving and protecting Starlight Park, and forging a Bronx River Greenway that would be a source of respite, pride, health and learning for the people of the Bronx. Alexie was a ready partner in the Bronx River Working Group and served as the first chair of the Bronx River Alliance, from 2001 to 2005, laying the groundwork for the organization.

She has gone on to be the interim executive director of the Sisters Foundation and a Senior Fellow for the Funders’ Collaborative for Youth Organizing. She is also the first Director Emerita of the Bronx River Alliance board and continues to be a potent voice for community visions and empowerment.


Dart Westphal’s contributions as an environmental advocate began with grassroots efforts to rebuild the Bronx in the 1970s, designing and building green open spaces, including many parks and community gardens that now thrive in the South Bronx. He served on the team that developed the 1993 Bronx Greenway Plan and worked with the committee that developed the plans to start the Tour de Bronx and the Bronx Parks Speak-Up. At the Speak-Up residents came together with local elected officials and the Parks Department to discuss current problems and brainstorm solutions. At the third Speak Up, the Bronx River was a main topic of discussion, and its participants were natural partners for the emerging Bronx River Working Group. Dart became the second chair of the Bronx River Alliance from 2005-2008, and continues to be an active member of the board. Throughout his career, from the early days at the South Bronx Open Space Task Force to work at NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and as president of the Mosholu Preservation Corporation, Dart has always made sure that development and improvement of open spaces is part of the community development mix.

Currently as a Senior Associate at the Support Center for Nonprofit Management, Dart helps increase the effectiveness of nonprofit leaders and their organizations.


Driving Directions to the Mosholu Gate into the Botanical Garden
From Manhattan (West Side)

West Side Hwy North to Henry Hudson Pkwy North to Mosholu Pkwy (Exit 24). Continue to the end. Turn right onto Southern Blvd. and make a quick left at the Mosholu Gate into the Garden.

From Manhattan (East Side)

FDR Drive North to Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (formerly the Triboro Bridge) to Bruckner Expwy East (I-278) to Bronx River Pkwy North to Fordham Rd (Exit 7W). Merge onto Fordham Rd and stay in right lane. Turn right onto Southern Blvd, and continue past the main Garden entrance on the right. Bear right along the Garden to the Mosholu Gate.

From Westchester County

Saw Mill River Pkwy South to Cross County Pkwy East (OR Hutchinson River Pkwy South to Cross County Pkwy West) to Bronx River Pkwy South to Fordham Rd (Exit 7W). Merge onto Fordham Rd and stay in right lane. Turn right onto Southern Blvd, and continue past the main Garden entrance on the right. Bear right along the Garden to the Mosholu Gate.

From Connecticut
New England Thruway South (I-95) to Pelham Parkway West (Exit 8C). Pelham Pkwy turns into Fordham Rd after 2 miles. Turn right onto Southern Blvd, and continue past the main Garden entrance on the right. Bear right along the Garden to the Mosholu Gate.

Or Merritt Pkwy South to Hutchinson River Pkwy South to Cross County Pkwy West to Bronx River Pkwy South to Fordham Road (Exit 7W) Merge onto Fordham Rd and stay in right lane. Turn right onto Southern Blvd, and continue past the main Garden entrance on the right. Bear right along the Garden to the Mosholu Gate.

From Long Island

Throgs Neck Bridge to New England Thruway (I-95) North to Pelham Pkwy West (Exit 8C). Pelham Pkwy turns into Fordham Rd after 2 miles. Turn right onto Southern Blvd, and continue past the main Garden entrance on the right. Bear right along the Garden to the Mosholu Gate.

From Upstate NY

NYS Thruway South (I-87) to Saw Mill River Pkwy South (Exit 7A, just south of I-287) to Mosholu Pkwy (Exit 24). Continue to the end. Turn right onto Southern Blvd. and make a quick left at the Mosholu Gate into the Garden.

From New Jersey

George Washington Bridge to Henry Hudson Pkwy North to Mosholu Pkwy (Exit 24). Continue to the end. Turn right onto Southern Blvd. and make a quick left at the Mosholu Gate into the Garden.

From Brooklyn and Queens

Bronx-Whitestone Bridge to Hutchinson River Pkwy North to Bruckner Expwy West (I-278) to Bronx River Pkwy North to Fordham Rd (Exit 7W). Merge onto Fordham Rd and stay in right lane. Turn right onto Southern Blvd, and continue past the main Garden entrance on the right. Bear right along the Garden to the Mosholu Gate.

Directions from Manhattan or Long Island may be preferable, depending on your starting point.

Metro North Schedule
From the train station walk directly across the street into the Mosholu Gate of the Botanical Garden.

Departing Grand Central (Peak fare) Arriving Botanical Garden 4:54 ---- 5:15 5:40 ---- 6:01 6:05 ---- 6:26 6:49 ---- 7:10	Departing White Plains (Off-Peak fare) Arriving Botanical Garden 5:03 ---- 5:31 5:35 ---- 6:03 6:09 ---- 6:37
Departing Botanical Garden (Off-Peak) Arriving Grand Central 8:34 ---- 8:57 9:34 ---- 9:55	Departing Botanical Garden (Off-Peak) Arriving White Plains 8:49 ---- 9:17 9:51 ---- 10:19
Departing Fordham (only) (Off-Peak) Arriving Grand Central 9:01 ---- 9:21	Departing Fordham (only) (Off-Peak) Arriving White Plains 9:17 ---- 9:41

Schedule subject to unannounced changes; click here to confirm on mta.info. Purchase tickets before boarding; $5 surcharge for onboard sales.

Shuttle Bus Schedule from the Bedford Park subway stops to the Garden.
From 5:45 to 7:00PM we will have a shuttle bus circling about every 10 minutes between the Bedford Park subway stops and the Mosholu Gate at the Garden. Look for the dark green van with the Alliance logo on the side.